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Virchows Archiv
Published in: Virchows Archiv 1/2011

Open Access 01-01-2011 | Review and Perspective

Quality assurance in pathology in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis—European recommendations

Authors: Phil Quirke, Mauro Risio, René Lambert, Lawrence von Karsa, Michael Vieth

Published in: Virchows Archiv | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

In Europe, colorectal cancer is the most common newly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths, accounting for approximately 436,000 incident cases and 212,000 deaths in 2008. The potential of high-quality screening to improve control of the disease has been recognized by the Council of the European Union who issued a recommendation on cancer screening in 2003. Multidisciplinary, evidence-based European Guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis have recently been developed by experts in a pan-European project coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The full guideline document consists of ten chapters and an extensive evidence base. The content of the chapter dealing with pathology in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis is presented here in order to promote international discussion and collaboration leading to improvements in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis by making the principles and standards recommended in the new EU Guidelines known to a wider scientific community.
Footnotes
1
The term sessile-serrated polyp has been proposed elsewhere for serrated lesions that cannot be definitely classified into the category of hyperplastic polyps or serrated adenomas [12], especially in cases with technical inconsistencies such as tangential cuts or superficial biopsies. The same terminology has been propsed for lesions with minimal and focal structural alterations in the absence of cytological atypia [86].
 
2
High-grade neoplasia also contains the subgroup of intramucosal carcinoma used by some pathologists but not recommended here. For details see Ref. [11].
 
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Metadata
Title
Quality assurance in pathology in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis—European recommendations
Authors
Phil Quirke
Mauro Risio
René Lambert
Lawrence von Karsa
Michael Vieth
Publication date
01-01-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Virchows Archiv / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 0945-6317
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2307
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-010-0977-6

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